The40+Girl

What do we tell our kids seems to be the BIG question today. For me, Irene is 11 and is already a strong, opinionated little woman who wants to be heard and certainly have respect. She believes and sees the perfection in people no matter their color, religion or sexual preferences, in fact she prefers the unique and is herself a wonderful mix of the many cultures and people she has already experienced and thrives in knowing there is so much more. Today was hard, I was honestly at a of a loss for words and will have to do better tonight because she said she was scared and that is not what she should be concerned with at her age. I did tell her that unlike if the tables were turned, we will not claim rigging and we will accept what the electoral, not popular vote, has chosen. That unlike so many, we must support the new leadership and that we need to have faith that ultimatly right WILL win over wrong. I also told her that we were going back to our politically uninformed bubble. Where we don't watch the news or talk about politics when family gathers and only love and appreciation of each other is the name of the game. Because we were happier then........ Our home was a calmer place..... and like those images that you can't un-see, there are now people that I will never be able to look at in the same way with out all this rhetoric that has divided us. and that is the saddest part. Life is what you make and mine is in bubble of respect, HGTV, people I love, Beautie, my closet DESTINY, creativity, Musical.ly, weird, animals, food glorious food and happiness ! Come visit my bubble, but don't bring CNN oxoxo

Did I mention my handsome husband who had us all laughing and questioning "Where's Waldo" .... he likes to disappear and take his own tours, but he always comes back with interesting backstory and usually has made a new winemaker friend, so it's all good!

How befitting that the sky has darkened and grey because as we make our last trip "on the bus" we already miss our adventure. Many of us made our way to the Fatted Calf Charcuterie and Model Bakery for our last foodie indulgences until thanksgiving.... We are full of the riches from this most magical weekend. We are taking the memories of the passion that the winemakers, chefs and artists have shared.... both their craft, but also the commitment to their art, which is most infectious. I hope we can hold on to this magic and glow we are have in us this morning, let it carry us through the week and past the issues that don't really matter. God and art are good today. Thank you @ClaireParr and @bobbiihachJacobs and @Live In The Vineyard Oxox

Napa Saturday  I found my super power according to my pal, PJ Bloom.... Breaking the 4th wall!!! What can I say, I like to ask questions and let the artists who come and pour their souls out to us that we are interested in who they are and where the music that moves us comes from. James TW, who has been the opening artist for Shawn Mendez all summer found his calling at 13 making YouTube covers, but recently looked back on those recording and realized that his voice was changing.... let me tell ya'll it has changed into soulful, sound butter. He writes songs that make you cry.... and we all did when he sang "when you love someone" about telling your child that you're getting divorced. He wrote it for a young boy that he knew was about to get that terrible news and he wanted to give him a song to make it though..... sigh 💕 "Toast" Champagne and a beautiful pastry brunch hosted by JaM cellars that mix tasty wine with music and has a complete studio right in the tasting room for your most creative multitasking. Pete Yorn reminded us that "We Terrify the ones we love most" which is too fitting coming up next Tuesday and the holidays..... but love always conquers! And now on to our next Live In The Vineyard pinch me please adventure ❤️❤️❤️🎶🎶🎶 PS Yup thats me all Fleetwood with Stevie in the bathroom!

Perhaps a little fuzzy from last night, but nothing a little morning wine, brunch and pure groovy talent can't heal...... The husband, who can be a bit of a wine snob bought this gorgeous family owned wineries Cabernet while we shook our grove thangs with Spencer Ludwig whose song "Diggy" will be on replay in your brain soon.... I promise and what a lovely human Spencer is ❤️🎶😍 Keaton Simmons got us warmed up under the sunny sky with his badass percussion player Mona and sing along songs. We then boarded our very party bus to Brasswood winery and listened to the so sweet and all girls girl Colbie Calliat, who always makes you feel like you have a friend. Champagne and oyster break and on to some more great artists tonight!! #MadorumVineyard #LiveInTheVineyard #colbieCalliat #SpencerLudwig #KeatonSimmoms #BrassWoodWinery #Napa

Live In The Vineyard..... AHHHHH the BEAUTIE ❤️🌟 This is my favorite weekend of the year. Beautifully curated food, wine and music in one of the most beautiful places in the world... the Napa Valley Last night to my surprise, my friend Mark Isham showed up on stage while Stella Artois treated us to scrumptious dinner paired with beer, cidra and wine. This never again pop up dining room, surrounded by sparklingly musician art was a perfect end to our first night of this most spoiled rotten weekend. I must admit that before that we were whisked from the airport to the historic Inglenook Winery owned by Coppola and had insane wine, some melt in the mouth short rib mini bits and heard two new artists Elliott Root and Drake White from Nashville.... how fitting for me, huh? The in-between we got to witness artist drama under the Oxbow bridge with The Head And The Heart 😳 WTF!!! while drinking more wine and munching from the circle of food trucks under a setting Napa sun. But for me the best part is spending this weekend with the friends I have made in this crazy, but so rewarding business of music. More wine Pauli!!! Oxox

Yes you are seeing it right.... a Cheetah and yes I am at a wedding! Joseph, who is part of my team at ABC got married today in a most unusual setting, but that is Joseph, always looking at things through a different unique lens and bringing such dry humor to our work family. Joseph- I am honored to be here, not surprised it was such a different wedding and wish you love and light in your new union with Rachel! Xoxo Love always rules 💕

EVIL"Is somebody out there"? Ahhhh yeah.... EVIL DEAD with live music and creepy performances..... My brilliant friend, Richard Kraft's little monster 👹 is the perfect start of Halloween 16'. My first time seeing this classic and what a blast.... it's all the camp of rocky horror in fabulous cheesy 80's gore wrapped in Joe LoDuca's wicked score and Richard's wild whimsy. Bootastic! ☠️👻😾 "And Linda is still sleeping"

Charlie Faye & The Fayettes visited us at the music lounge today and took us back to the Stax Volt Records dayscomplete with the turntable backing these gorgeous girl group! Watch the show on Facebook live @ABCMusicLounge Oxoxo Beauties

NYC shoe tour 👠 Naked New York street tired feet ready for bed!! Early fly home tomorrow ..... to my baby, love and the furry ones

NYC shoe tour.....My fall favorite @targetstyle velvet pumps 👠and I walking back from, of course an amazing Italian dinner with friend, Alisa Coleman who I have grown up with in this crazy business. There is really some magic in this city that never sleeps and always a thrill to see Times Square 🌃. Thanks big Apple 🍎 for a quick, but super rich trip. ❤️💔. #Loeb&Loeb #the40PlusGirl #AnastasiaBrownNashville #TheBeAGirlPrinciples #brianlosch #timesquare #thelondonhotel #targetstyle

It's the NYC shoe tour! Today my ZARA silver loafers and I spoke at Loeb & Loeb LLP about music and artists use future in emerging platforms...... in other words.......creating more shows!! We also got to listen to Dr. Lawrence Ferrara and Paul Geluso speak about copyright infringement cases from Led Zeppelin to Madonna.... it was fascinating to see how scientific the comparisons become. Yes.... I am a music nerd! #the40PlusGirl #TheBeAGirlPrinciples #AnastasiaBrownNashville #Loeb&Loeb

Missed my flight this morning, but may have been a blessing to be on this beautiful flight to NYC..... thank for a delicious lunch @america_airlines. And the comfy nap!!

In support of my dancing girl, Jana Kramer @kramergirl I am joining SafeHorizon vowing to end domestic violence by painting my left, ring finger purple #PutTheNailInIt "Moving victims of violence from crisis to confidence" Because all should heal and thrive xoxox

Last night in the seat of a harvest moon, I spent the evening with new friends Matt and Kyle enjoying a simple, but naturally delicious farm to fork meal where we could literally see the field our veggies had been picked that day. Our friend Dawn McCoy invited us to break bread (with avocado butter!!) at her table to celebrate and raise funds for the MaxLove Project at the gorgeous, Tanaka Farms. When Max was diagnosis with cancer, his parents did not stop at the normal protocol and discovered among some great alternative healing practices, that food was one of the most important healing tools. They have built an impressive army to fight the scariest thing that a parent could ever face with science, hands on therapy and community for kids and their family. The night was filled with joy, tears and hope. I must admit that my favorite part of the evening was watching my rocking, get it done with such grace, beautie and FUN, Dawn host the evening (pictured calling to action). She even jumped into the crazy bidding adding her warmth to that frenetic patter of upping the stakes...... I hope the evening drew enough to build a kitchen where these sweet kids and their parents can learn how to cook and nourish their bodies back to health. Because science has proven that the food you eat can fight the cancer from growing and weep as many other health issues. Thanks Dawn, my younger twin❤️

Timing is everything and thank Universe for today..... having lunch with the girls!! The Variety Power of Women luncheon today was a true soul saver to be with women who create, inspire and believe that change is clear. Smart and beautiful everywhere, champagne, Lorac, Spanxx, Moroccan Oil, Frederique Constant, girls to do a little makeup touch up, a beautiful ladies room and among the other great honorees, Helen Mirren, who is the epitome of woman! Thanks Variety, just the escape we girls all needed ❤️💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽 Facebook let me tag 99 of you beauties..... tag the rest ya' all

These two WOWs prove that when we come together, even from the most distant places and past, we can create solutions, community and loving unity. In this case of WOW, the founding mothers of the Downtown Women's Center. Roza, among thousands found herself on the streets of LA in the mid 70’s after the closing of the state run psychiatric hospitals. Although mental illness haunted her, she was exceptionally resourceful and with her experience as a cook and housemaid, she sort of created her own B&B. She would lay out cardboard for other homeless to sleep on and cook for them in exchange for their promise to watch out for her…. Brings me such awful chills keeping in mind that the unaccompanied homeless woman’s reality at night is to simply keep moving on foot to be safe. Luckily for Rosa and so many women to follow, Jill Halverson had a dream, a plan and a nest egg. Jill, a social worker met Roza in the parking lot where Roza had settled. Jill noticed over the conversations over coffee that although Roza was homeless with some mental illness, she was a bright, loving, interesting woman with a keen sense of humor. Jill also realized that unlike homeless men, that the simplest things, like staying clean….which was really important to Roza, were near impossible because city services were not available for homeless women like they were for men. Jill would watch Roza collect water in pails and then set them in the sun to heat up enough so she could the create a cardboard shower enclosure to bathe. Jill found her mission. Using her life savings she bought a house downtown in 1975 and open the doors to the first shelter for women only, where there was always a pot of coffee brewing and Roza had her first place to call home in years. Today the Downtown Women's Center has moved and renovated an old shoe factory to a beautiful day shelter that feeds, educates and provided health services, but also houses around 71 homeless woman…one of them until recently when she need additional care was Roza, who is still a bright hope for all women. Two women, one mission ……..WOW!! Beauties- Please look for the details on the Holiday Blessing Bag drive……. I know you have at least one “impulse buy” handbag in your collection that is just never right. Let it go and get some real girl love this holiday. Pull it out and start filling it with that extra sample or gift bag item you will never use. pick up an extra chapstick or box of feminine product or pack of gum and watch your blessing bag grow. AND that included you male Beauties too! xoxox Learn more about the Downtown Women's Center at @www.downtownwomenscenter.org